"It was an opportunity to step back in time..."

Your Friday photo is in honor of the Guided Nature Walk in April...

“I appreciated the chance to experience the Divine through nature,” said Ron Holsey, Meher Mount board vice president, after taking part in the nature walk at Meher Mount.

This photo of botanist Scott Tomkinson talking about the native plants at Meher Mount was taken by Ron Holsey.

“It was an opportunity to step back in time and imagine what the land was like hundreds or even thousands of years ago.”

— Ron Holsey, Guest

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When I think about nature at Meher Mount, my mind usually goes to the birds, the animals and the trees. It’s not often that we think about all the ‘little guys’ — the plants, grasses, and shrubs that we trample on or brush past as we walk from place to place.

That’s why Scott’s plant walk was such a unique experience. It gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for these overlooked inhabitants of the land.

The guided walk was also a sensory experience. We took a closer look at some of the plants we might not normally notice. We smelled their crushed leaves, felt their velvety textures, and heard how their seed pods sounded.

I learned about a variety of native plants. There is the Southern California Black Walnut (Juglans californica) which differs from its European cousins and was used by the Chumash Indians.

Scott also talked about the natural deodorant, Cowboy Cologne (Artemisia californica) and other medicinal plants used by Indigenous Americans. 

It was an opportunity to step back in time and imagine what the land was like hundreds or even thousands of years ago.

~Ron Holsey, Guest & Board Vice President

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